Political lions Wellington Webb, Federico Peña and Roy Romer have developed close working relationships over the years, leaning on one another's political know-how to push some of the region's most ambitious projects and initiatives.

But now the three find themselves in direct opposition, each supporting a different candidate for Denver mayor and each giving his own expertise to help their proteges.

Webb is supporting City Councilman Michael Hancock; Peña is backing James Mejia; and Romer is behind his son, Chris Romer.

"There is a real interesting confluence of events occurring," said Floyd Ciruli, political analyst. "These three old-timers, who have been around Denver politics for long time and have lots of old connections and history, now they are battling it out. We shall see. They are all in it. There is no retirement."

If no candidate gets more than 50 percent of the vote, a runoff will be held June 7 between the top two vote-getters. Recent polls have shown the three candidates — Romer, Mejia and Hancock — are statistically tied for first place.

"The metaphor is the lions are supporting their cubs," said Susan Barnes- Gelt, a political observer and former city councilwoman.

"This primary, or whatever you call it, is really a one-off," Barnes-Gelt said. "You will really be able to see where the chips fall in the runoff. Does Peña go to Hancock, or Webb go to Mejia? There will be so much pressure on those two to get involved."

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Their influence is more than a voice on a robo-call or a name on an e-mail.

Each of the former politicians is bringing expertise and name recognition to support candidates who arguably have been unknowns to the general public.

"First and most significant point is, all of us are friends," Webb said. "We have known each other for a long time. All three of us have continued to be active. When you are active, and you are asked for help, you try to provide what support you can."

Webb, Denver's mayor from 1991 to 2003, is famous for his ground game that catapulted him from relative obscurity in the 1991 campaign to the top spot over former prosecutor Norm Early.

Webb's sneaker campaign took him on a walking tour of Denver in which he went door-to-door to introduce himself to voters.

That drive can be seen in Hancock's efforts in the past few weeks. Hancock has rented a bus to travel around the city's neighborhoods to encourage voters to turn in their ballots.

Webb has not previously endorsed in a mayor's race, saying he was too close to the position before now.

"What I bring is encouragement to a younger staff, that (the campaign) is a seven-day, 24-hour job; you get a little sleep and go back to work," Webb said. "Normally, who puts in the most work effort on their campaign is the winner."

Peña, Denver's mayor from 1983 to 1991, also has not endorsed in a mayoral race before now. Peña's nod was not easy to get this time, even though his wife was working for the Mejia campaign, said Berrick Abramson, Mejia's campaign manager.

"Honestly, we thought he was going to sit out," Abramson said. "He is someone who James talks with very frequently both on policy and politics. He has also been a wealth of knowledge on city operations, government operations, and what he learned and what he did as mayor."

Peña's current employer, however, prohibits him from raising or soliciting contributions, directly or indirectly, or having his name attached to fundraising, Abramson said.

Roy Romer was Colorado's three- term governor, from 1987 to 1999, and has undoubtedly brought considerable help to his son's campaign through connections and because of that distinctive surname.

A Romer campaign staffer earlier in the campaign recounted a meeting with an advertising team from Chicago, who were fresh from Rahm Emanuel's successful mayoral campaign.

Roy Romer sat in the corner, listened to the strategy and offered quiet advice. The room was silent as the Chicago staffers dutifully took notes, recognizing a veteran in their midst.

"This is Chris' campaign, and I am just a tag-along helper," Roy Romer said in a February interview. "I'm not the instigator, manager or originator. I am very interested and want to help him."

Whether endorsements push anyone to vote for a candidate is debatable, said former U.S. Sen. Gary Hart.

"They are just picking their favorite horse," he said. "In my experience, endorsements don't turn out votes. I have endorsed candidates in the past. I don't think I turned one vote. I don't think it matters."

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